Liverpool back on top; Arsenal's unbeaten run ends

2018-12-16 21:19:00

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Liverpool's Xherdan Shaqiri (R) celebrates with Georginio Wijnaldum (L) and Roberto Firmino after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match against Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool Sunday. — AFP

LONDON — Liverpool powered back to the top of the Premier League as Xherdan Shaqiri inspired a 3-1 win over bitter rival Manchester United, while Arsenal's 22-match unbeaten run was shattered by a shock 3-2 defeat at Southampton Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's side made it six successive league victories thanks to Shaqiri's late double after United's Jesse Lingard had cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener at Anfield.

Shaqiri's superb substitute cameo allowed Liverpool to reopen a one point lead over second placed Manchester City after the champion had knocked the Reds out of first place with its win against Everton Saturday.

Liverpool's first win in its last six meetings with United ended a frustrating streak against the Old Trafford outfit that dated back to March 2016, while also extending its unbeaten start to the league season to 17 matches.

While that was cause for pre-Christmas revelry on the Kop, more significantly, Liverpool's refusal to be subdued by a United team set up by Jose Mourinho with five defenders was another statement of intent as it chases a first English league title since 1990.

Senegal winger Mane put Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute when he broke away from Ashley Young to meet Fabinho's sublime pass with a nimble piece of chest control before shooting past David De Gea.

United equalized against the run of play in the 33rd minute as Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a hash of catching Romelu Lukaku's low cross and Lingard finished off the rebound.

Alisson's error didn't prove costly as Switzerland midfielder Shaqiri struck within three minutes of coming off the bench, his shot flicking off the hapless Young into the roof of the net in the 73rd minute.

Shaqiri ensured Liverpool would return to the top in the 80th minute with a stinging strike that clipped the foot of United defender Eric Bailly on its way past De Gea.

United is now 19 points behind Liverpool in sixth place as the pressure mounts on Mourinho following another wretched display.

Austin settled a thrilling clash at St Mary's when he headed home with just five minutes left after Arsenal goalkeeper Leno misjudged Shane Long's cross.

Southampton had twice taken the lead through Danny Ings, only for Henrikh Mkhitaryan's brace to draw Arsenal level on each occasion.

Leno's mistake handed Arsenal its first defeat in 15 league games and brought a stunning halt to its longest unbeaten run in all competitions since 2007.

Emery's fifth-placed team had not lost since a 3-2 defeat at Chelsea in August and the north Londoners' first setback since the close-season leaves them three points behind the fourth-placed Blues, who won 2-1 at Brighton Sunday.

Chelsea put a week of negative headlines for the behavior of its fans behind it on the field thanks to an inspired Eden Hazard at Brighton.

The Belgian provided his ninth assist of the season for Pedro to open the scoring and then chalked up his ninth goal of the campaign, but first in 13 games for club and country.

Solly March pulled one back with his first goal of the campaign, but Chelsea held on to restore some positivity after Blues fans were involved in alleged racist abuse of Manchester City's Raheem Sterling and anti-semitic chants during a midweek Europa League tie.

"He's very able to come out and play with his teammates, very able to create spaces. Now, in that position, he has to improve in attacking the box," Sarri said of Hazard's display as the spearhead of Chelsea's attack. — AFP